Ski binding



June 18, 1968 R. R. HOLLENBACK 3,388,918

SKI BINDING Filed July 25. 1966 UnitedStates Patent O 3,388,918 SKIBINDING Richard R. Hollenback, 1404 Potato Point Road, Appleton, Wis.54911 Filed July 2s, 1966, ser. No. 567,709 7 Claims. (Cl. 280-11.3S)

This invention relates to a safety ski binding for releasable attachmentof skis to a ski boot.

Skiing may involve any one of three different varieties which maygenerally be grouped as downhill or slope skiing, overland orcross-country skiing, and ski jumping or ying. It is highly desirable inall forms to have an attachment of the skis to the skier including areleasable binding such that if the skier should fall with excessive andabnormal strains., on the skiers foot, the skis are automaticallyreleased and the skiers foot is freed. In slope skiing where high speedturns may be encountered, twisting and breaking of a leg presents asevere problem if the skis are not securely attached to the ski bootssuch as `to respond rapidly while still being released in the event of afall. Similarly, in ski jumping and the like, release of the skis maybecome essential.

However, the movement of the foot normally varies with the type ofskiing. For example, in ski jumping and in overland or cross-countryskiing, the heel of the boot is preferably released to permit raising ofthe heel from the,l portion of the ski while retaining interconnectionetween the front portion and the ski. This is necessary for comfortablemaneuvering in overland skiing and essential in ski jumping or flying topermit proper body movement.

In ski jumping and the like, a severe strain is normally placed on thebending of the boot. For the average person, the cost of a pair of skiboots represents a relatively substantial investment. A hinged structureto avoid the adverse stressing is therefore desirable. However, suchdevices have normally required special boots or modication to the bootwhich prevents their normal use.

Although special bindings have therefore been suggested for variousforms of skiing and highly developed safety release bindings areavailable, they have certain disadvantages from the standpoint ofvarious forms of skiing, complexity and expense and do not appear to bepractical.

The present invention is particularly directed to a highly improvedhinged ski binding which permits selective release of the hingestructure for pivotal movement ofthe usual boot while maintaining normalsafety binding in operational connection between the ski and the boot.Generally, in accordance with the present invention, the ski bindingincludes a boot support member or plate pivotally attached to the skiand including a releasable latch member secured adjacent the back end ofthe adaptor plate to permit locking of the plate to the ski or releasingof the plate for pivotal movement. The forward end of the adaptor plateis provided with a suitable releasable toe clamp. A releasable bindingis secured to the ski and to the boot and is additionally coupled to theplate to move with the plate and mairtain the normal safety connectionbetween the ski and boot under al1 conditions. Thus, usual spring loadedbindings may be releasably secured to the ski immediately forwardly ofthe plate and project backwardly beneath coupling tabs on the plate andupwardly behind the heel to releasably clamp the boot to the plate. Fordownhill or slope skiing, the plate is latched against pivotal movement.The safety binding then functions in the normal manner to release theski from the skiers boot in the event of abnormal stresses on the safetybinding. For overland skiing and jumping, the rear latch is released tofree the plate for hinged movement. The skier can now pivot forwardly on3,388,918 Patented June 18, 1968 ICC tne hinge of the adaptor plate. Theinterconnection of the safety binding through the adaptor plate to theheel however maintains complete operational action of the safety bindingduring such forms of skiing.

The latch structure for an adaptor for a hinged ski binding preferablytakes the form of an upstanding lip on the back edge of the plate with aplate-like vane set on its edge and rotatably mounted immediately behindthe adaptor plate and adapted to be positioned in overlying latchingengagement with the lip or spaced from the lip. The vane provides alarge operating surface for readily moving of the vane without removalof the skiers gloves. The relatively large leverage will also permitmore readily breaking of any lock due to freezing and the like. A loopedflat spring is preferably provided to hold the vane in the locked orunlocked position. This provides a relatively simple latch mechanismwhile permitting ready operation of the device by the skier without thenecessity of removing his ski mitts.

The present invention thus provides a relatively simple and reliablesafety binding for adapting a single set of skis to the several forms ofskiing.

The drawing furnished herewith illustrates a preferred construction ofthe present invention in which the above advantages and features areclearly disclosed as well as others which will be clcar from thefollowing description.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged side elevational view of a ski bindingconstructedl in accordance with the present in vention and attached to aski with the boot releasably held within the binding;

FIG. 2 is a similar view with the adaptor plate released and showing thehinged movement;

FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the ski and binding with the bootremoved; and

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view more clearly showing a releasablelatch lip on the support plate.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. l, the ski binding ofthe present invention is shown applied to a ski 1 for releasableinterconnection to a conventional ski boot 2 which is worn in the mannerof a shoe. Generally, the ski binding of the present invention includesa metal support plate 3 somewhat longer than the length of the ski boot2 and narrower than the width of the ski 1, as shown in FIG. 3. Theadaptor plate 3 is secured to the ski 1 by a hinge 4 shown as aconventional variety having a rst generally triangular plate 5 securedto the ski 1 by a plurality of screws 6 and a second similar plate 7secured' to the forward underside of the adaptor plate 3 by small boltand nut assemblies 8. The hinge plates have mating cylindrical offsetportions interconnected by a hinge pin 9.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the support plate 3includes depending lips or side edges 10 on the back edge of the plateto support the Plate spaced from the ski 1 sufficiently to accommodatethe hinge 4. The side edges of the plate 3 also are bent downwardly asat 11 to strengthen the plate.

The forward end 12 of the support plate 3 extends beyond the hinge pin 9and is bent upwardly at an angle of about 45 degrees.

A conventional toe clamp 13 is bolted or otherwise secured to the bentforward end of the support plate 3 and includes an inclined abutmentadapted to receive and overlie the projecting portion 14 of the sole ofthe boot 1 in the assembled relation shown in the drawing.

A standard releasable loop member 15 which may be formed of a flexiblecable or t-he like has its free ends secured to a releasable latch 16 onthe ski 1 forwardly of the hingedconnection of plate 3. Moreparticularly, the free ends of the loop member 15 are connected tocorresponding similar spring elements 17 which are interconnected to aU-shaped yoke member 18 formed of a rod or `the like. The yoke member 18in turn is adapted to be disposed within any one of a plurality ofnotches 19 in a base member 20 of the latch 16. Member 20 is bolted orotherwise secured to the ski 1 in the usual manner. A binding lever 21is pivotally secured to the mem- -ber 20 to overlie the notches 19 andhold the yoke 18 within a set notch. The lever 21 is secured in place byan over center latch linkage 22 to permit insertion and removal of theyoke from a selected notch. A

The binding loop member 15 extends along the depending side edge 11 ofthe plate 3 with the outer end portion extending upwardly and over theback edge of the boot heel as at 22. A pair of tabs or hook members 23and 24 is secured to each side of the plate 3 in longitudinally spacedrelation and defining downwardly opening hooks with the binding loopmember 15 extending beneath the hook and then upwardly over the heelportion. Hook members 23 are shown as separate elements attached to theside edges 11 by suitable nut and bolt units 25. Hook members 24 areformed to the opposite ends of a plate-like member which is secured tothe underside of the plate immediately adjacent the hinge pin 9 by apair of the hinge plate attachment nut and bolt units 8.

In the position of FIG. l, the loop member 15 therefore extends from thereleasable connector 16 rearwardly parallel to the ski 1 beneath therear hook members 23 and 24 and then upwardly around the heel at 22. Theplate can pivot about the hinge pin 9 to the position shown in FIG. 2.In this position, the releasable binding loop member 15 expands from theconnector generally parallel to the ski 1 to the hinge connection,upwardly alongside of the plate 3 beneath the hook members 23 and 24 andover the protruding edge of the back of the heel. In either positionshown, or in any intermediate position, it will be seen that the loopmember 15 maintains releasable clamping of the boot to the plate 3 andtherefore to the ski 1.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention,a latch mechanism 26 is provided to lock the back end of plate 23 to theski 1 for slope skiing and the like where the pivotal movement of theboot 2 is undesirable. The illustrated latch mechanism 21 includes anintegral upstanding extending latch lip 27 on the rear edge of the plate3. Tip 27 includes a central notch 28 formed in the uppermost edgethereof. A latching Vane 29, in the form of a plate-like member, ispivotally mounted in a vertical plane and is adapted to be disposed in aplane generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ski with theforward end disposed within the locking notch 28 to securely lock theplate 3 to the ski 1. It can be rotated to disengage the forward edgefrom the locking plate and allow the free pivotal movement.

The locking vane is pinned or otherwise fixed within an appropriate slotin pivot shaft 30 which extends downwardly and terminates in a mountinghub 31. The hub 31 includes a bottom tapped hole which threads onto athreaded stud 32 mounted on the ski and forming a part of a mountingbase 33 which is secured to ski 1 by a plurality of screws 34. Employingthe inner tapped hole which threads onto an upstanding stud 32 reducesthe danger of collection of water or moisture which might freeze andinterfere with pivoting of the latch vane 29.

A loop spring 35 formed of a strip of spring metal has its opposite endssecured to the base 33 as by screws 36 and extends upwardly to form aloop with the base portion just above the lower edge of vane 29. Theloop spring 35 holds the vane 29 in either set position while permittingmanual rotation therebetween.

The present invention is thus seen to provide a very versatile safetyattachment for interconnecting of a ski boot to a ski while permittingthe use of a conventional boot and maintaining the safety bindingoperational at all 4 r times. Further, the binding provides thenecessary. efficient interconnection of the boot to the ski for allforms of skiing. For `ski jumping and flying, the vane 29 is rotated tothe phantom line position of FIG. 3 to release the plate 3 and permitthe necessary pivotal movement. of the body and foot with respect totheski 1 without unduly stressing the boot 2 and t-hus particularlyadapting the unit for use bythe amateur skier.A Similarly, forcrosscountry skiing and the like, the boot 2 is free to pivot about thepivot pin 9 for comfortable and convenient movement without unduestresses and strain being placed on the boot and foot. However, forslope skiing and the like, the vane 29 is rotated to latch the plate `3to ski. 1 and the boot and foot are held against pivotal movement inaccordance withjthe usual support to maintain proper control of theskis. s:

The present invention may also be employed with other bindings such as adual swivel binding rather than the swivel and cable binding shown. Insuch structure,.the rear swivel would be secured to the plate betweenthe heel and plate latch.

In summary, the present invention provides a ski binding which permitsready adaptation to the usual ski and ski boot and binding and inparticular maintains the safety bindings operational in all connectionsand conditions while permitting the desired freedom of movement inaccordance with the form of skiing. The latch mechanism is readilyoperable under the usual conditions encountered in skiing.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

I claim:

1. A ski binding for releasable connection of a ski to a ski boot,comprising:

a support plate defining a boot supporting surface and having pivotmeans for pivotal attachment toa ski in the area of the toe of the skiboot, and

a releasable binding member having means coupled to the support memberand to the boot to movewith the support member and thereby maintain thebinding member effective to releasably hold the boot to the supportmember under all operative positions of the support member,

said boot having a front projecting portion and a rear heel portionadjacent the sole of the boot, and having means secured to the supportplate to engage the front projecting portion and having a portion of thebinding member engaging the rearheel portion to releasably secure theboot to the support plate,

the support being generally longer than ski boot and inclludinga forwardend extending upwardly at an ang e,

an abutment secured to the angled end of the plate to overtop theforward end of the sole of a ski boot, and,

the pivot means being a hinge means secured to the underside of theplate adjacent the angled end and having securement means for attachmentto the vski for pivotally mounting the plate in the foot area of theski.

2. The ski binding of claim 1 having means to releasably latch thesupport plate to the ski to prevent pivotal movement of the plate.

3. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein the'releasable binding member is aflexible loop member secured to the ski immediately forwardly of theplate and extends rearwardly adjacent the plate and around the heelportion of the boot, and connection members are connected to the supportplate and overlie the loop member whereby s aid binding is effectivewith the plate engaging the` ski or pivoted away from the ski. v

4. The ski binding of claim 3 having means to releasably latch thesupport plate to the ski to prevent pivotal movement of the plate.

5. The ski binding of claim 1 wherein:

the support plate includes a downwardly extending support lip and anupward latch lip,

the hinge means includes a pair of `plates interconnected by a pin, oneof said hinge plates being secured to the forward portion of the supportplate and the second ofthe hinge plates being secured to the ski forpivotally mounting the plate in the foot area of the ski,

a releasable ilexible binding cable having the opposite endsinterconnected to the ski by a releasable latch unit and extendingrearwardly to each side of the support with the central portion beingadapted to loop around and over the heel portion of the boot,

hook members secured to the support plate and extending over the bindingcable to hold the cable to the plate whereby said binding is eifectivewith the plate engaging the ski or pivoted away from the ski, and

a pivotally mounted latch lever secured to the ski immediately behindthe support plate and having a iirst position overlying the upstandinglatch lip and a second position spaced from the latch lip.

6. The ski binding of claim 4 having a downwardly opening spring loopsecured to the latch with the upper portion in the path of the latchlever.

'7. The ski binding of claim 4 wherein said latch lever is a flatstrip-like vane pivoted on a longitudinal edge, and 5 having a pivotsupport including a stud member secured to the ski and a shaft meanssecured to the vane and having a tapped opening threaded onto the studmember.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,003,777 10/1961 Hiining 28o-11.35 3,095,210 6/1963 Hallam 28o-11.35

FoREiGN PATENTS 15 947,025 1/1949 France.

134,284 10/1929 Switzerland. 300,634 10/1954 switzerland. 323,349 9/1957switzerland.

20 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

MILTON L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SKI BINDING FOR RELEASABLE CONNECTION OF A SKI TO A SKI BOOT,COMPRISING: A SUPPORT PLATE DEFINING A BOOT SUPPORTING SURFACE ANDHAVING PIVOT MEANS FOR PIVOTAL ATTACHMENT TO A SKI IN THE AREA OF THETOE OF THE SKI BOOT, AND A RELEASABLE BINDING MEMBER HAVING MEANSCOUPLED TO THE SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING MEANS COUPLED TO THE SUPPORT MEMBERAND THEREBY MAINTAIN THE BINDING MEMBER EFFECTIVE TO RELEASABLY HOLD THEBOOT TO THE SUPPORT MEMBER UNDER ALL OPERATIVE POSITIONS OF THE SUPPORTMEMBER, SAID BOOT HAVING A FRONT PROJECTING PORTION AND A REAR HEELPORTION ADJACENT THE SOLE OF THE BOOT, AND HAVING MEANS SECURED TO THESUPPORT PLATE TO ENGAGE THE FRONT PROJECTING PORTION AND HAVING APORTION OF THE BINDING MEMBER ENGAGING THE REAR HEEL PORTION TORELEASABLY SECURE THE BOOT TO THE SUPPORT PLATE, THE SUPPORT BEINGGENERALLY LONGER THAN SKI BOOT AND INCLUDING A FORWARD END EXTENDINGUPWARDLY AT AN ANGLE, AN ABUTMENT SECURED TO THE ANGLED END OF THE PLATETO OVERTOP THE FORWARD END OF THE SOLE OF A SKI BOOT, AND, THE PIVOTMEANS BEING A HINGE MEANS SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PLATE ADJACENTTHE ANGLED END AND HAVING SECUREMENT MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE SKI FORPIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE PLATE IN THE FOOT AREA OF THE SKI.